l.i.p.s.puzzle

This is a DIY puzzle project which only requires some graph
paper, pencil, pens, straight edge, scissors, time, attention, and patience.

1.) Divide up the graph paper into squares of one inch by
one inch with nice, dark lines and draw a nice thick border. Now make a second
piece of graph paper exactly like this first one. Place one aside.

2.) Cut out several squares, triangles, rectangles; whatever
shapes appeal to you. You can use any paper, even more of the graph paper if
you want. I used red construction paper and cut seven squares of 2X2 inches and
one rectangle of 2X4 inches. The total area of my eight shapes equals nine
twentieths of the overall graph space. (Go on, I dare you. Figure out what
percentage nine twentieth is…). Notice that I lettered each shape, do yours
also. This will be important later. (‘Later,’ as in when you need to find the
solution later.)

3.) Next, turn over your lettered shapes and arrange them on
top of your graph paper so that none are touching, overlapping each other, or
overlapping your drawn border of the graph paper. Spread them out to cover the
entire paper.

4.) Carefully – and this is the most difficult part – draw a
pencil line across each of your shapes where they overlay the one inch lines
you drew earlier. I do this by holding a straight edge across all the shapes
line-by-line. Pencil in the horizontal lines, then pencil in the vertical
lines. After that, draw a darker and broader ink line over the pencil lines on
your shapes.

5.) Now, this part is very important! You must preserve this
layout because this is your proven solution. Carefully trace around each
shape’s position on this first piece of graph paper. Then, as you remove each
shape, write its corresponding letter within their outline.

The object of this puzzle is to see if someone – even
yourself – can arrange the shapes so that the dark lines on the shapes overlay
the one inch grid lines on the second piece of graph paper (the one without the
lettered outlines). You may not overlap the shapes or the border. Not as easy
as it looks. If it is too easy, your shapes may be too small a percentage of
the overall graph paper. If too hard, then the shapes may be too large.

Below is my most recent failed attempt to put mine back
together. Proving, once again, that someone who can make a puzzle can’t always
put it back together again.